Week in Keyboards 32
15 Feb 2016KatzenKinder Sale On
This is a limited event so it’s good to mention it while it’s happening.
- KatzenKinder gh Thread
- Blue Purple Sale Entry Form(Likely to go down in the next day or so)
The Amazing Chocolatier Set
This set caught my eye. It’s not visually contrasting but it just seems very nicely put together. I was also equally impressed by the site. I just left thinking it was a very nicely put together set.
Uniqey Test Site Appears (then disappears)
So this is sort of what was wanted, and not too far from what it was expected to cost. Whilst not cheap, this is the custom GMK keyboard that people want. The base price for a keyboard seemed around 250 eur. You can get GMK caps, clips and customise the case, but whether it is actually worth it I’m not too sure. I’m disappointed in myself for not taking any screenshots and there is nothing on the wayback machine. But from what was there it seemed like a good online configurator for a keyboard.
Wooting
Up until now the wooting keyboard has been a fairly standard TKL. It seemed like a well built keyboard but there was always the teasing of a ‘special’ feature that would make it stand out.
That feature is analog switches. And that means the switches are not just on or off but have measures of how on they are. There are some applications for this (any example of movement in games) but whether you will find this a useful feature of a keyboard, I’m really not sure.
- ANALOG MECHANICAL KEYBOARD FOR GAMING(wooting blog)
MaxKeyboard Custom Backlit Keycaps
This is an interesting service and something I haven’t seen before. You are able to upload your artwork and get a custom backlit cap. As this is from maxkeyboards, this is certainly legitimate.
The price of $7 is also quite reasonable for a custom product.
Azolt Half Mechanical
On the surface this appears to be a standard keyboard with the ‘gamer’ look. But the selling point of this keyboard (maybe?) is the fact that it is half-mechanical. This both effects the price and the feeling. I felt it was worth a look because the diagram sort of looks like the Topre switch arrangement, but without the spring. The spring however, is quite important in Topre switches so I really don’t know if there is anything good here. It could feel nice but I have no experience. But in the end I think the gamer aesthetic removes anything good this keyboard had going for it.
Another hybrid mechanical is the cougar 450K.
azolt.com is just a clicking game so there was not a lot of information there.
Infinity 60% On Massdrop
This is a tried and tested 60%. I believe there were some issues with pcb’s in the early runs but this is the latest revision. Notable features are led support, MX and Alps support and support for the KLL keyboard firmware.
Typed on HHKB Pro 2
I have to say these are pretty spot on. The sculpting all looks really clean and awesome. The castle in particular has a very nice looking texture and the turtle shells have some very nice colours.
A new maker has appeared with an aluminium milled keycap. The design is quite something and they also come in some snazzy vacuum packed packaging.
This is the new name for the maker who created the reactor keycap. It’s a bit pricey but it is a unique keycap. You can currently purchase the reactor cap alongside some other backlit keycaps on massdrop.
KeyKollectiv is still going strong. This month saw 3 rounds of key-walas
Bambino has started off very strong with three designs, the keybuto, Duke and Spartan. The duke is the standout with some excellent colour use.
Whizzard had another assorted sale featuring the new Space Race helmet and some quite striking colours for the abductor.
R.A.G. Caps is still going strong and even with some successful spacebar casts. My new favourite would be the 
The Polar Ice Sale happened incredibly quickly but featured some very nice keycaps, as you have guessed it was an icy theme. 
A sale been and gone but 
Although this sale was postponed, the keycaps still look awesome. I would be looking forward to this sale in the future.
Keypress graphics is known for painting keycaps. And I do think some nice things have been created.
Some interesting designs here, my favourite would be the hands on the bars.
Not the most complicated of design but I do think the simpler keycaps can be quite striking. I like the character and think this is a good start.
Certainly some nice sculpting here but the shark and the hooded skull are a bit close to existing designs.
I have been loving ImpendingxDoom’s recent swirly colour combinations. These latest arrow clusters are also quite spectacular.
There was an assorted keycap sale from katzenkinder. Everything again looked very nice. I do like katzenkinder.
This is a groupbuy for the recently available cherry GMK keys, In the above colours. This was around last week but as it is a rolling groupbuy it is still worth a mention.
